'HOPEOVERFEAR'Barack Obama Becomes First African American PresidentWASHINGTON, D.C.—It was a dayunlike any other in American history.Shortly after noon on January 20. as acrowd of more than 1.8 million peo-ple watched in person and millionsmore watched on TV or online. BarackObama was sworn in as the nation'sfirst African American president.Obama took the oath of office with onehand raised and the other on the sameBible Abraham Lincoln used at his firstswearing-in ceremony, in 1861.

in 1865, Lincoln freed slaves throughthe Emancipation Proclamation. Now,after more than a century of strugglefor equal rights, an African Americanis president. To many, Obama'sachievement is the fulfillment ofLincoln's promise of equality made! 46 years ago. There were tears of joy

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and pride in the eyes of many peoplein the crowd. Many African Americanshad thought they would never see theday when a black person would beelected president.

"I didn't think I would see a blackpresident in my generation. 1 just hadto be here," Donald Butler, 20, toldthe My Way news service.

RESTDRINB HOPE

As Lincoln did, Obama takes office ata time of national crisis. For Lincoln,the crisis was a looming civil warand the breakup of the Union. ForObama, it is the most severe economicdownturn since the Great Depressionof the 1930s and two ongoing wars,in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

"Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and

hatred." he told Americans in his inau-gural address. "Our economy is badlyweakened. ... Homes have been lost,jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Ourhealth care is too costly, our schoolsfail too many."

Despite those huge problems.Obama said, Americans will unite toovercome them. This country, he said,has "chosen hope over fear."

"Today 1 say to you that the chal-lenges we face are ... serious and theyare many. They will not be meteasily.... But know this, America: Theywill be met. On this day, we gatherbecause we have chosen hope overfear, unity of purpose over conflict anddiscord. ... Starting today, we mustpick ourselves up, dust ourselvesoff, and begin again the work ofremaking America."

FamousFirsts"I do solemnly swear..." Everypresident has uttered thosewords since George Washingtontookthefirst inaugural oath in1789. Though the oath of officehas stayed the same, somepresidents made their cere-monies stand out. Here's how. They watched from a platform.

James Madison was the firstpresident to hold an inaugural ball.J^^^ ^^^^ ̂ ^^^y^ „ho didn't dance at

the 1809 gala? Madison and his wife!

Andrew Jackson's inauguralcelebration in 1829 was rowdier.About 20,000 guests packed theWhite House. The party got so wild

William Henrinaugural speeclongest, at 8,445to wear a coat or

that Jackson climbed out a window! event, fell ilt, an

CURRENT EVENTS February 2. 2009

MESSABE FOR WORLD

Obama also sent a message to the mil-lions of people watching around theworld. "Know that America is a friendof each nation and every man, woman,and child who seeks a future of peaceand dignity. And we are ready to leadonce more," he said. He wamed thatthe United States would not give upits fight against terrorism. "We will notapologize for our way of life, nor willwe waver in its defense. And for thosewho seek to advance their aims byinducing terror and slaughtering inno-cents, we say to you now that ourspirit is stronger and cannot be bro-ken; you cannot outlast us, and we willdefeat you."

"Obama! Obama!" the huge crowdchanted both before and after hisspeech. People were clearly happywith both their new president and themessage of hope in his words.

Brianna Hoffman, a 13-year-oId stu-dent at New Hampshire's HampsteadMiddle School, was in the crowd withher class. "[The inauguration] wasamazing." she says. "The crowd washuge. Obama's speech was reallygood. Everyone seemed very happy.There was a black woman sitting nextto me who said. 'Congratulations, youhave a new African American presi-dent.' I just smiled ... It's history."

PARTY TIME

After the speech, Obama and Firstl^dy Michelle Obama joined new VicePresident loe Biden and his wife. Jill

A historic day, tromtop: Obama giveshis inauguraladdress: leads theparade to the WhiteHouse with his wife,Michelle Obama;dances at a ball.

Biden, for a special lunch with mem-bers of Congress and other top U.S.leaders in the U.S. Capitol. Later inthe afternoon, it was time for the inau-gural parade down PennsylvaniaAvenue. The president and his wiferode both in a limousine and walkedas they waved to cheering crowds lin-ing the streets.

The celebrating continued that nightwith a number of inaugural balls andconcerts; the Obamas put in appear-ances at many of them. There waseven a special inaugural ball for youngpeople ages 18 to 35, for which

Obama's daughters, Malia, 10, andSasha, 7, helped pick the entertain-ment, including singer Miley Cyrusand rapper Bow Wow. The first daugh-ters didn't attend the big bash, though.They were busy doing a late-nightscavenger hunt at the White House.Hidden behind one door were thegirls' all-time favorite pop stars, thelonas Brothers. Tlie irio had played forthe girls the day before at a specialinaugural concert for kids.

WALKINGTD FLYING

President Obama nowfaces the challenge ofturning his inauguralwords into concreteachievements. For manyAmericans, however, hehas already achievedmuch, lust two daysbefore the inauguj-ation,

the Obamas attended a Sundaychurch service at Washington, D.C.'sNineteenth Street Baptist Church.During the service, young people readaloud from the program.

"Martin l.uther King walked sothat Barack Obama could run," readone boy.

'Barack Obama ran so that all chil-dren could ily," continued another, CE

• • ; . PREDICT THE NEWS* what kind of president do youthink Batack Obama will be? Why?Tell us at edce@weeluyreader.cotn.

larrison's Calvin CooUdge had the first11B¿1 was the inaugural speech broadcast liveirds. He refused over the radio, in 1925. His was alsolat for the chilly the first oath administered by a

Lyndon B. Johnson was thefirst to take the oath on a planeand the first sworn in by a women.He did both in 1963 after U.S.

led 31 days later. former president—William H. Taft. President John F. Kennedy dieb.

In 1997, Bill Clinton went whereno president had jone before—theInternet! His second inaugurationwas the first to be broadcast liveonline. People worldwide tuned in.

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